seleneheart: (Jonathan Green)
[personal profile] seleneheart
Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa



Blurb:
One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono.

Now he has broken free.

Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has one task: to take her piece of the ancient and powerful scroll to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the Harbinger of Change, the great Kami Dragon who will grant one wish to whomever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. But she has a new enemy now. The demon Hakaimono, who for centuries was trapped in a cursed sword, has escaped and possessed the boy she thought would protect her, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan.

Hakaimono has done the unthinkable and joined forces with the Master of Demons in order to break the curse of the sword and set himself free. To overthrow the empire and cover the land in darkness, they need one thing: the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. As the paths of Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi cross once again, the entire empire will be thrown into chaos.


The second book in the Shadow of the Fox series. I'm still enjoying this immensely - my one complaint would be some of the dumb decisions made by the protagonist. But she's a teenager so I suppose it's to be expected. Once again, the book takes us into a world of Japanese mythology and folklore, with several forbidden romances blooming. I've already started the third book, and can't wait to read the conclusion of this adventure!

But also, with this book, I've completed my entire bingo card:


Thank you to [personal profile] kingstoken for running this challenge. I read lots of books, including some I might not have without the Bingo challenge. I always appreciate things that take me out of my comfort zone or my usual reading.

Book Bans

Jun. 22nd, 2025 12:03 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Oregon has passed a bill to protect school libraries from book bans.

Another win for freedom to read legislation on the West Coast this week, as Oregon’s state House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 1098 on Monday, a bill that will protect access to books in school libraries. It’s great news: books can no longer be banned solely because they discuss sexuality, religion, or other topics, nor can books be removed because they are written by someone from a protected class. SB 1098 now goes to the governor, who is expected to sign it into law.


I'm delighted to see laws against book bans spreading. To promote this, point out that it will save lots of time and therefore money that is currently wasted dealing with attempt after attempt to tell other people what books they can't read. Most people love saving time and money, and will thus support the effort even if they don't care about books or freedom.

Philosophical Questions: Harm

Jun. 21st, 2025 11:56 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

How far should governments go to prevent its citizens from causing harm to themselves?

ExpandRead more... )

Today's Adventures

Jun. 21st, 2025 06:02 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today we went up to Amish territory.

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Books

Jun. 21st, 2025 04:03 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
A Rainbow of Queer Books for Pride 2025: Turquoise

HAPPY PRIDE 2025! For Pride this year, we’re changing up our usual rec lists. Instead of doing books with specific identities or themes, we’re focused this time on cover color! Throughout the month of June, we’ll be doing 8 rec lists, each with covers inspired by one of the colors of the original Gilbert Baker Pride Flag. We drew a little additional inspiration from the meaning behind the color and why it was included in the original LGBTQIA+ flag (in this case, turquoise = magic), but we prioritized color over meaning. The contributors to this list are: May Barros, Rhosyn Goodfellow, Linnea Peterson, Tris Lawrence, Sebastian Marie, Shannon, Rascal Hartley, and Nina Waters.

Birdfeeding

Jun. 21st, 2025 12:26 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is mostly sunny, muggy, and hot.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/21/25 -- Temperature when we went out shopping was 94°F. Temperature in our yard is currently 88°F. Trees sweat so you don't have to!

EDIT 6/21/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio. The evening has started to cool off a little.

I've seen a mourning dove.

EDIT 6/21/25 -- I watered the patio plants and the ones in the house yard including the old picnic table.

Fireflies are starting to appear.

EDIT 6/21/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and the savanna seedlings.

More fireflies are out. :D

EDIT 6/21/25 -- I watered the new picnic table and the septic garden.

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.

Photos: Charleston Food Forest

Jun. 21st, 2025 02:03 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
These pictures are from Thursday.  I went foraging at the Charleston Food Forest.  It's across the parking lot from the Coles County Community Garden.

ExpandWalk with me ... )

Photos: Coles County Community Garden

Jun. 21st, 2025 12:16 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
The Coles County Community Garden is across the parking lot from the Charleston Food Forest. It's not the kind where you rent a bed and grow what you want. It's tended by the community and anyone can come pick things to try.

ExpandWalk with me ... )
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
We made this tonight. It was delicious! We used some of the pretzel bread that we got at the Marshall Farmer's Market.

ExpandRead more... )

Happy Litha!

Jun. 20th, 2025 08:33 pm
ysabetwordsmith: (muse)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
We did our Litha ritual today.  :D 

Birdfeeding

Jun. 20th, 2025 05:09 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is cloudy and muggy.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.  I also saw a male cardinal and a squirrel up in the trees.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/20/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 6/20/25 -- I watered the new picnic table garden.  I picked the first 'Chocolate Sprinkles' tomato and several 'Toscana' strawberries.  I love the Toscanas and will definitely buy more if I see them next spring.

Heat

Jun. 20th, 2025 01:20 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
[personal profile] readera has a post about heat precautions regarding the heat dome. These are my additions...

ExpandRead more... )
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
We visited the butterfly gardens at the Charleston Library, on June 19 although this is dated 20 because it's after midnight.  They were filled with birds, although I didn't manage to catch any pictures of them.

ExpandWalk with me ... )

Follow Friday 6-20-25: Highlander

Jun. 20th, 2025 12:04 am
ysabetwordsmith: A blue sheep holding a quill dreams of Dreamwidth (Dreamsheep)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today's theme is Highlander.

ExpandRead more... )

Today's Adventures

Jun. 19th, 2025 11:14 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
We went out today and visited several nature places.

ExpandRead more... )
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
We made this tonight. It turned out quite well. :D

ExpandRead more... )

6/19/2025 Inspiration Trail

Jun. 19th, 2025 12:03 pm
mrkinch: Erik holding fieldglasses in "Russia" (bins)
[personal profile] mrkinch
For the first time in a while I parked well before dawn, but I considered just going home. I persevered because although the wind was the strongest I recall (my app said 17 mph but I've no way to measure it), it was clear for a change. So I grabbed a windbreaker and headed for the shelter of the ridge, shortchanging the first bit of the trail, if there was any activity there. But! The MacGillivray's Warbler was singing where he sang in years past! Two and a half months late as far as I'm concerned.:) I told myself I would not continued out to the point because of the wind, but of course I did. I usually find an additional species or two out there, today it was Red-winged Blackbirds flying west and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. When I walked back the MacGillivray's was still singing and I actually saw him. That's rare for me, and I'm pretty sure he was feeding a nestling/fledgling by the sounds; whatever begging sound a baby bird makes, that sound generally accelerates as the parent approaches with food, and that's what I heard. Which would mean they've been here long enough to have chicks that old, so I don't know why I haven't heard him before. I think other people have, just not me. There seemed to be other fledgling activity there in the dip, with an unusual number of Wrentits. They are notoriously skulky but I suspect recently fledged young where hotly pursuing adults in search of food. This is just my interpretation, very possibly incorrect. ExpandThe list: )

No Warbling Vireos or Black-headed Grosbeaks, could be gone or just quiet. I live in hopes. Mammal of the morning was a small bobcat that came ambling up the trail (coyotes trot, bobcats amble). I waved at them and they stopped and unhurriedly turned off the trail upslope, which surprised me since there are more people on Nimitz Way than downslope. So that was fun. All in all I am very glad I didn't just go home.

Birdfeeding

Jun. 19th, 2025 01:18 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is partly sunny and mild.  It rained yesterday.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/19/25 -- We went out for a while and saw the library wildflower meadow, Fox Ridge, and the Charleston Food Forest.

EDIT 6/19/25 -- I refilled the thistle feeder that was half empty.

EDIT 6/19/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 6/19/25 -- I sowed 5 pots with yellow raspberries.

EDIT 6/19/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 6/19/25 -- I picked up sticks from the south side of the driveway and dumped them in the firepit.

Lots of fireflies are coming out.  :D

EDIT 6/19/25 -- I picked up sticks from the North side of the driveway and dumped them in the firepit.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Wildlife

Jun. 19th, 2025 01:16 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
New butterfly species wows scientists: 'This discovery reveals a lineage shaped by 40,000 years of evolutionary solitude'

The Satyrium semiluna, or half-moon hairstreak, is a small gray butterfly that looks like a moth at first glance. The wildflower lovers are widespread across North America, from the Sagebrush steppe to the montane meadows of the Rocky Mountains.

But tucked away in the southeastern corner of Alberta, Canada, another colony of butterflies flaps across the Blakiston Fan landform of Waterton Lakes National Park.

Until now, they were thought to be a subpopulation of half-moon hairstreaks — until scientists made a phenomenal discovery: They were a new species of butterfly that had hidden in plain sight for centuries.

The researchers, who recently published their findings in the scientific journal ZooKeys, defined the new species as Satyrium curiosolus
.

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